A new medical director has been appointed at the county's busiest hospital.

Eastern Daily Press: Erika Denton, Medical Director at NNUH. Photo: NNUHErika Denton, Medical Director at NNUH. Photo: NNUH (Image: NNUH)

Professor Erika Denton, who has been a consultant radiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (NNUH) for 19 years, has taken over from Peter Chapman, who had been in the role on an interim basis - which was later made permanent - since April 2015.

A hospital spokesman said Mr Chapman had announced he was retiring, but would still be doing some work for the hospital in his specialty of hand surgery.

Chief executive of the NNUH Mark Davies said last month that no more changes would be made to the trust's leadership, following a damning report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which deemed the hospital unsafe.

But the hospital said at this point Mr Chapman had not announced his retirement.

And Mr Davies said yesterday: 'I am delighted that Erika is joining the executive team - her significant leadership experience and her clinical knowledge make Erika extremely well qualified for this role and I am sure that she will make an enormous contribution to the trust's journey of improvement.'

Prof Denton was appointed to the role of associate medical director at NNUH in 2016, the same year that she was also appointed to the role of clinical advisor in imaging at NHS Improvement.

Her previous national roles from 2005 to date include national clinical lead and subsequently national clinical director for imaging at the Department of Health. From 2013 to 2016 she was national clinical director for diagnostics at NHS England leading work across all aspects of imaging.

Prof Denton said: 'I am extremely proud to work at NNUH as I know how skilled, talented and caring our teams are. I am looking forward immensely to the role and working with the board, the executive team and all staff to further improve patient care and to make NNUH the best possible environment for staff, patients and our community.'

The medical director is responsible for leadership of clinical quality, safety, and clinical research, as well as providing professional strategic medical advice to the board.

Other changes in recent months were the appointment of John Hennessey as chief finance officer and incoming chief nurse Professor Nancy Fontaine.